Why you’re dressing more casually in the office

If you work in an office, what are you and your employees wearing today? It probably depends on the type of business, and the sector you’re in. But there’s every chance that you’re dressing more casually than you used to.

Of the senior managers quizzed for an OfficeTeam survey in 2016, for example, half said their employees dressed less formally than they did five years before - a sign that many companies are starting to implement more relaxed dress codes.

Even the investment banking sector, notorious for smart suits and traditional business wear, shows signs of cracking to casual. In 2016, JP Morgan sent staff an internal memo saying that business casual dress would be expanded “firmwide”, saying that "more clients are dressing informally, and many parts of our company are already business casual."

It’s clear that the workplace as a whole is starting to throw off the stuffy suit and tie culture. What (or rather, who) is behind this trend, and why is it important when it comes to keeping your business ahead of the pack?

Millennials forge ahead in the workplace

As more and more millennials take on decision-making management positions in the UK workforce, their preference for dressing more casually is filtering down to business as a whole.

Compared to even a generation ago, workplace culture is less formal. Performance, not processes, takes the main focus. So it makes sense that the way many of us dress for work is changing.

Going casual is seen as a perk

In today’s competitive job market, smart companies know they have to stand out as a progressive workplace.

Being able to go to work in more casual clothing is definitely seen as a perk. So much so that when a group of job hunters were polled last year, the survey found that over 60% would view a potential employer negatively if it enforced a dress code.

The message is clear: if you want to attract and retain talent, you may need to reassess what you think your employees should wear to do their jobs.

Staff crave individuality

Workplace research suggests that smart office wear can be a staff turn-off, too. One study showed around 35% of staff felt that smart work clothing was out of date, with over 33% of respondents hoping their company would ditch the corporate dress code.

The top reasons employees gave were for comfort, and the fact they’d prefer to show off their personality in their own choice of clothes.